How to Get Ready for MANCAMP

This should give you just about everything you need to know for MAN CAMP. Have a question beyond what’s covered here? Talk to your trip captain or email us at [email protected]

Schedule

We’ll depart from the church parking lot on Saturday, July 23 at 9am. It’s about an hour from Erie. We will arrive back around 2pm on Sunday, July 24.

Communications and Emergencies

Generally, we’re off the grid during MAN CAMP. We’ll be turning off and collecting cell phones before we head out to the campsite.

If there’s an emergency at home: Before MAN CAMP, your Trip Captain will give you a phone number for your family to call in the event of an emergency.

If there’s an emergency at MAN CAMP: We’ll have a medical response team onsite, and a way to get you from the campsite to a hospital.

What to Pack

Everything you pack needs to fit into one duffel bag and one backpack. You’ll ride out to the campsite on a bus with your stuff on your lap.

CLOTHES. Two main ideas: keep yourself dry, and dress in layers if you get cold. Depending on the forecast, you’ll want to have the following:

A short sleeve (preferably moisture wicking) shirts

A water-repellent coat or rain shell

A couple pairs of socks

Boots or waterproof shoes

A jacket or hooded sweatshirt

Work gloves

TOILETRIES. You pretty much just need Wet Wipes (for pooping in the woods) and a towel (like a shammy, just in case). A toothbrush and toothpaste is sort of optional. Don’t bring a razor. You probably don’t need deodorant, unless it’s that prescription deodorant. Bring that deodorant.

FOOD. We’ll supply dinner and beverages on Friday and water throughout the trip. Beyond that, you’ll need to bring your own—food for breakfast and snack on Saturday. Bring food that can be stored without refrigeration, and that doesn’t need a whole lot of prep time (unless you’re a campfire gourmet). Clif bars, jerky, trail mix, cheese and crackers are all great options.

INDIVIDUAL CAMPING GEAR. Make sure you get a hold of all of this stuff:

A headlamp or flashlight (a cheap one from Home Depot is fine)

A folding camp chair for the campfire (a crappy tailgate chair is fine; fit it on top of your duffel bag, slipped between the handles)

A sleeping bag (a basic one will work; it’s only one night)

A plate

A cup for coffee and beverages

A spork or other utensil

Earplugs (normally these would be optional, but you’ll be surrounded by 49 snoring machines)

PACK CAMPING GEAR. Make sure you’re covered with all these between everybody in your pack:

Tents

Lighter or waterproof matches

A tarp (or two), along with bungees and/or rope, for building a lean-to for your pack in case it rains

OPTIONAL CAMPING GEAR. Bring this if you have it, and if you have room.

Sunglasses

Pain reliever

Allergy meds

Sunscreen

Instant coffee and a pot to boil water in

Dehydrated food

Jetboil or similar cooking system if trail mix won’t cut it

Multi-tool

WHAT NOT TO BRING..

Don’t bring a gun. We’ll have that covered. That’s pretty much it.

ManCamping 101: How to make the most of your camping experience.

Moisture is the enemy of comfort. Keep that in mind as you make choices. there are no dryers. What gets wet, stays wet. what is wet is cold and miserable.

Sleep naked in your bag, especially if it is super cold. Your sleeping bag will work much better if you don’t sleep clothed. (Seriously, it’s designed to use your body heat to warm the bag.)

Try to wear good water resistant or waterproof shoes.

Pooping outside is glorious and natural. There will be “scat-holes” dug for you to use. Always face uphill and use a wide stance (falling in is bad). Take a couple of wet wipes with you to clean up and toss them in the hole.

Even though it’s summer…it can get chilly at night. If it is super cold a Nalgene bottle filled with hot water (heated by jetboil or the fire in a pot) will make your sleeping bag super comfy. Just heat the water, dump it in the Nalgene (close the lid tightly) and throw that into the foot of your bag when you get in. Don’t do this until you are 100% ready to go to sleep, you want to soak up as much heat as possible. Don’t heat a plastic bottle or a bottle with a plastic closure by the fire. It could easily develop a leak and your bag will be wet and miserable all night.

Pro-tip: Throw the clothes you’re going to wear in the morning into the bottom of your bag too (not between you and the Nalgene). They will help keep the heat in the bag and they will be toasty for the morning. Remember, DO NOT WEAR THEM TO SLEEP.

If it is going to rain, Cotton is the enemy. Denim is only slightly better. Wear synthetic items if possible.

Do not place your tents super close to the fire. Sparks can reach them but heat cannot. Sparks can ruin a tent quickly.

Always stake the tent down (even if it isn’t windy).

Always put on the rain fly securely (even if it doesn’t look like rain).

Always keep the doors zipped shut unless you are actively accessing the tent. You don’t want to sleep with all sorts of critters and bugs.

Always place your tent on the most level ground you can find. The ground will not be level so place the “head” of your bedroll at the highest point.

Locate your headlamp and have it with you before dark.

Make sure that anything you bring (clothes, gear, etc) is as versatile and multi-functional as possible. It is much better to bring 5 things than to bring 25 things. Plus…it’s only one night.

Don’t put food inside your tent unless you want a nighttime visitor with paws. Most tents have a “vestibule” which is a spot covered by the rainfly outside of the sleeping area where you can store items.

Put all trash into a trash bag immediately. Things will blow around and get scattered very quickly.

If you go to bed first, put in your earplugs. Tents do not block sound. The rest of your group should not be expected to get super quiet since you chose to call it a night.